Car-roof.



(IV. E. SYMONS.

CAR ROOF.

APPLICATION FILE-D NOV. 30. I912.

Patentefl Nov. 28

INVENTOR,

ATTORNEY 4 SHEETSSHEET 1.

WITNESSES W. E. SYMONS.

CAR ROOF.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30. I912.

Patented Nov. 28, 1916.

4 SHEETS -SHEET 2.

M N LII- ll: 1N

WITNESSES.

ATTO R N EY Lima. wasmuc mu. 01?;

W. E. SYMONS.

CAR ROOF.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30. 1912.

Patented Nov. 28, 1916.

SHEET 3.

4 SHEETS INVENTOR,

ATTORNEY W. E.-SYMONS.

CAR ROOF.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30. I9I2. v

Patented Nov. 28

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

ATTORNEY WILSON E. SIMONS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CAR-RQOF.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 28, idle.

Application filed November 30, 1912. Serial No. 734,376.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, lVmsoN E. SYMoNs, a citizen of the UnitedStates,-residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented a new and useful Car-Boot. of which thefollowing is a specification. I

The invention relates to improvements 1 car roofs. W

In the ordinary type of car root most generally used wherein the roofsheets eX- tend from the center of the car to the outer on s or eaves,being nailed at the latter point all torsional strains causing thedistortion of the roof sheets result in either tearing the sheets at theeaves or facia or pulling them apart where they are joined byinterlocking flanges or similar joints at the center or ridge pole, thefailure usually being greater at the eaves or facia board for the reasonthat the fastening in the center or at the rid s pole is much morerigid, offering greater resistance than the fastening at the caves. Therigidity of this center connection is also reinforced by the location ofthe running board saddles, which are usually bolted down through theridge pole with nuts on the inside of the car, thereby making the tworoof sheets almost as solid as though the two sheets were one continuouspiece extending entirely across the car from one facia board to theother. To overcome these objectionable features my design of rooipresents large center or floating sheets, flexibly connected with narrowside sheets preferably at a point nearer the eaves than midway betweenthe ridge pole and the eaves. By this design the torsional strains thattend to disrupt or injure the present long roof sheets extendingentirely across one half of the car are taken care of, and the largecenter or floating sheets and the narrow side sheets of the present roofare attorded tree and easy movement at point near the eaves, therebyeliminating the possibility of damage either to the narrow sheets on theside or the large center floating sheets, which extend under the runningboard. The present roof also provides for both lateral and trans ersemovement of the root sheets without distortion or injury to the same,the joints aflording' ample play both transverse and longitudinal forall possible movements of the roof structure. whether the car structurebe of wood or metal, that it might be called upon to meet in the mostextreme service conditions whether on straight lines, hilly roads ofsharp curvature or from rough switching in yards and terminals.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a single layerself-sustaining roof structure adapted to eliminate the underneathboards or flooring or analogous wooden supports and to afford a clearview of the roof for either interior or exterior inspection, to detectleaks. etc, and to provide a complete metallic roof of simple andcomparatively inexpensive construction. which will be thoroughly waterand weather proof and in which there will. be suilicient flexibility toprevent the sheets from being torn or pulled apart at the eaves line orfacia.

A further object of the invention is to provide a metallic root of thischaracter adapted to be readily applied to cars without necessitatin anyalteration in the construction of the car bodies or frames. or anyspecial preparation of the same, and in which the central. or majorportion of the roof will be composed of Floating sheets and not hebolted, clamped. bound. or in any manner held so as to interfere withsuch freedom of movement as may be essential to avoid damage, and at thesame time remain weather and water proof. This difiierentiates the roofof the present invention as belonging to an entirely difi'erent classfrom those in common use wherein the roof sheets are joined to thecenter using some form of inverted hood or covering to prevent theadmission of water at the center joint.

Another object of the invention is to equip the roof with a runningboard, adapted to be applied to the roof in a completed condition andcapable of covering and protecting a large area of the same and ofaffording maximum safety to trainmen and of permitting them to pass oneanother without having to step upon the roof sheets.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction and novel combination of parts hereinafter .fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out inthe claims hereto appended; itbeing understood that various changes inthe form, proportion, size and minor details of construction, within thescope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from thespirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. p

In the drawings :Fig. 1 is a plan view of one end of a car roof,constructed in accordance with this invention, portions of the runningboard and an intermediate center sheet being broken away to illustratethe construction more clearly. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the samepartly in section. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal sectional view. Fig.4: is a transverse sectional view,

taken substantially on the line 4& of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an enlargedtransverse sectional view, taken centrally through one of the transversejoints. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 6-6 ofFig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view, illustrating theconstruction of the end and intermediate roof sheets and showing one ofthe central sheet caps. Fig. 8 is a detail longitudinal sectional view,taken through the center of the roof sheets. big.

9 is a similar view through the side roof sheets. Fig. 10 is a detailView of one of the side sheet caps. Fig. 11 is a detail perspective Viewof one of the ridge pole blocks. Fig. 12 is a similar view of one of thecenter sheet cap filler blocks. Fig. 13 is an enlarged detail sectionalview on the line 1313 of Fig. 1. Fig. 14- is a detail sectional view onthe line 1 l1i of Fig. 5. Fig. 15 is a detail perspective view of one ofthe running board holders. Fig. 16 is a horizontal sectional view, takensubstantially on the line 1616 of Fig. 6.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawings.

In the accompanying drawings in which is illustrated the preferredembodiment of the invention, the metallic roof comprises in itsconstruction relatively large end and intermediate center sheets 1 and2, and relatively small end and intermediate outside or side sheets 3and 4, arranged in transverse sets or series and having transversejoints connecting the sets of the center and side sheets and supportedby carlines 5, the number and location of which correspond with the sizeof the roof sheets, a carline being located beneath each of the saidtransverse joints in flush relation with the upper edges of the sideplates 6" of the car body. The side sheets are supported upon the upperedges of the side plates 6, and the carlines 5 are preferablyconstructed of metal and are approximately U-shaped, being provided attheir side edges with spaced longitudinal ianges, as clearly illustratedin Fig. 3 of the drawings. The side flanges are preferably sheared oifat the ends and the top portion bent downwardly to form attaching legs6, which are bolted or otherwise secured at the inner faces of the sideplates of the car. In addition to the carlines, the roof is supported bycentral and side purlins 7 and 8, preferably constructed of wood, andthe central purlin constitutes a ridge pole. The center sheets aresupported upon the purlins 7 and 8 above the plane of the side sheets,which are arranged upon the carlines.

'The central and side ends sheets 1 and 3 are provided at their outertransverse edges with downwardly bent flanges 9 and 10, which aresecured by nails, bolts or screws to the end plate of the car. The endand intermediate outside or side sheets are provided at their outerlongitudinal edges with downwardly bent flanges 11 and 12, which aresecured by screws, bolts or nails in the side plates of the car. The endand intermediate side sheets are also provided at their innerlongitudinal edges with approximately L-shaped flanges 13 and 1 1,extending upwardly and inwardly and supported upon the side purlinsagainst the outer portions of which the L-shaped flanges fit. The sideportions of the center sheets overlap the inner longitudinal portions ofthe side sheets and are provided at their side edges with downturnedside flanges 15 and 16, located at the outer side edges of the sidepurlins and fitting against and engaging the upwardly extending L-shapcdflanges of the side sheets 3 and 41-.

The end and intermediate center sheets are provided at their adjacentt'ansverse edges with upturned flanges 17 and 18, separated a distancecqui l to the size of a ridge pole block 19 and center sheet capflllerblocks 20 and overlapped and engaged by center sheet caps 21,which span the spaces between the center sheets. Each center sheet cap"21 is approximately U-shaped in cross section, being composed of a topportion and de pending side flanges between which are arranged theugturned flanges 17 and 18 of the center sheets. The center sheet capsare of a length to extend across the center sheets, and they terminateat the inner edges of the side sheets and at the ends of the upturnedflanges 17 and 18. Also the space between the depending side flanges 22of the center sheet caps is greater than the space between the upturnedflanges 17 and 18 to permit movement or flexibility without bending thesaid flanges.

The ridge pole block 19 is arranged with in the center sheet cap at thecenter thereof and supports the same, and it is secured upon the centralpurlin or ridge pole by a vertical bolt passing through a centralopening in the block 19 and having a polygonal head 24:, which is seatedin a re cess 25 inv the upoer face of the block 19, as as clearlyillusti ted in Fig. 5 of the drawings. T he bolt passes through thecenter purlin or ridge pole and through the supporting car-line, and itis provided at its lower threaded end with a nut engaging the lower faceof the top portion of the car-line. The center sheet cap filler blocks,which are mounted upon the side purlins, have central bolt openii'igsand are provided at their upper "faces with annular bosses 26,surrounding the upper end of the bolt opening and fitting within flangedopenings 27 of the center sheet cap. The center sheet cap is supportedat its ends by the flller blocks, which are ecured in place by belts orstuds 28, piercing the side purlins and the top portion or the carlineand having threaded upper and lower ends 29 and 30. The upper threadedends 29 engage threaded sockets 31 of running board holders and the,

lower threaded ends 30 oi the studs 28 receive nuts o3, which engage thelower face of the top portion of he carline The outside or side sheets 3and 4: are provided at their adjacent ends with transverse jointsconsisting of an upturned flange 3i and an approximately ll-shapedflange or portion arched over and forming a nap for the upturned flange34. The up-.

turned flange Eel, which is vertical, is located centrally or midway ofthe transverse planes of the upturned flanges 17 and 18 of the centersheets 1 and 2, and the corner of the sheet having the flange 3% is cutaway at the inner end thereof to provide a re cess 36 to enable the sideplate to fit the adjacent corner of the center sheet cap filler block20. The arched overlapping approximately V-shaped portion 35 is composedof oppositely inclined. sides or wings, one of which extends upwardly,from the end of the sheet having the arched portion 35, to apoint aboveand in spaced relation to the upper edge of the upturned flange 34, andthe other inclined side or wing extends downwardly over the sheet havingthe upturned flange 3% to a pointin spaced relation with the same, asclearly illustrated in Fig; 6 of the drawings. The flanges 34: and 35are of a length to extend across the side sheets from the inner upwardlyextending L-shaped longitudinal flanges 13 and 14 to theouter downturnedflanges l1 and 12.

The transverse edges of the center sheets are supported upon the purlins7 and 8, and the transverse edges of the outer or side sheets rest uponthe end portions of the car-lines. The outer ends of the transversejoints of the side sheets are covered by side sheet caps 37, preferablyconsisting of castings and composed of an outer vertical portion and asubstantially V-shaped top portion 39, extending from the inner face ofthe vertical portion 38 and composed of oppositely inclined sides orwings, which flt the ii-shaped flange or portion 35. The verticalportion 38, which is secured to the side plate of the car by bolts,screws, or other suitable fastening devices, is recessed at its innerface at 4L0 providing spaces for the end portions of the downturnedflanges of the side sheets and leaving an unrecessed portion d1, whichfits against the side plate of the car between the downturned flanges11. and 12 of the side sheets Each terminal of the center side cap andthe inner end of the adjacent transverse flange of the side sheets arecovered and protected by metallic casings 42 of the run ning boardholder 32, which preferably consists of a casting. The running boardholder 32 comprises a central vertical stem l3, an upper pocket 44: or4L5, and the said lower casing 42, which is composed of the top spaceddepending sides and the connecting end flange or wall, which is providedat the bottom with a central V-shaped recess 46 to receive thetransverse joint of the side sheets, as clearly shown in Fig. 6 of thedrawings. The top wall or portion of the casing 42 is provided with aninterior recess at! into which extends the boss 26 of the filler block20 and the flanged opening 27 of the center sheet cap 21. The threadedsocket 31 is formed in the lower portion of the stem 4.3 and extendsupwardly from the recess 47, as clearly shown in Fig. 5, and the bolt orstud 28 securely fastens the running board holder to the adjacent sidepurlin and carline.

The pocket 4A, which is located at one side of a running board 48,consists of a horizontal bottom, vertical side walls and an outervertical connecting end wall, the pocket 44 being open at the top andinner end, as clearly shown in Fig. 15. The other pocket 45, which islocated at the opposite side of the running board 4-8, is composed of abottom, vertical. side walls, a vertical outer end wall and a top wall49, the pocket 45 being open only at the inner end, but the runningboard may be equipped at each side with either an open or closed pocket.The construction shown, however, is preferable as supporting crosspieces 50 or saddles ot the running board may be readily introduced intothe pockets 45 and then dropped into the pockets le and secured to thesame by a single bolt 51. The running board con sists of a series ofplanks or pieces supported at intervals by the cross pieces or saddles50 to which they are suitably secured. The saddles or cross pieces 50project at the sides of the running board ,to fit Car the pockets i4,and 45. The running board is of sufficient width to permit trainmen topass one another without stepping upon the roof sheets, andas it extendspractically entirely across the center sheets, it protects the samebesides affording maximum safety to the traimnen. The roof will be fullyprotected from the action of the trainmen and others who pass over carsfrequently running or jumping on them in a manner which would materiallydamage the roof sheets unless there be a layer of boards underneath theroof, which supporting layer of boards is eliminated by the use of thewide running board of the present invention.

The running board projects beyond the end of the car and is supported byinclined end braces 52, secured to the end braces 52 of the car and toend transverse supports or saddles 53. The car is also equipped at eachend with a lateral extension 54E of the running board, extending fromthe side of the car to the adjacent side of the running board andconsisting of boards or pieces secured to the upper edges of spacedtransverse bars 55, having their inner end por- .tions 56 extendingbeneath the running board and supporting tapered blocks 57, secured tothe bars 55 and to the adjacent planks or pieces of the running board byvertical bolts, or other suitable fastening devices.

In assembling the parts, the roof sheets are placed in positioncommencing from either end of the car. The major portion of the roof iscomposed of relatively large unattached center sheets, which arepractically what might be called floating sheets, as they areimperforate and not bolted down at any point and, therefore, there isabsolutely no possibility. of these sheets being torn or pulled out ofshape by the torsional strain transmitted to the car roof. Neither canthe side sheets be pulled loose from the eaves or elsewhere for thereason that they are not fastened at the center of the car, the point ofconnection being much nearer the eaves than midway between the eaves andthe center of the car roof, and, therefore, the relatively narrow sheetsat the sides of the car will receive no injury from the movement of thecar body. Neither can the relatively small side sheets transmit anypulling strains to the center sheets for the reason that they are notbolted together, and on account of this freedom from the pulling andtearing effect, which injures or destroys the outside roofs in presentuse, they will practically last the life of the car without becomingdefective by the action of the car in service.

In the present design of flexible car roof using the center type offloating sheets, it is preferable to construct the sheets of a size tocover. approximately sixty to seventy per cent. of the entire area ofthe car roof, and it is feasible to use sheets of greater width orlength than is at present used in common practice. In fact sheets sixfeet in length can be used with good results, while the present sheetsare only about twenty-four to thirty inches, thus requiring by thepresent practice sixteen sheets on each side of a car approximatelyforty feet long, or a total of thirty-two sheets, while in my type ofroof in which I eliminate the center connection at the ridge pole, usingin its stead two joints or connections at a point nearer the eaves thanthe center of the car, the sheets when constructed six feet in lengthwill only require a total of seven sheets to cover the car there beingthree rows, thus making twenty-one sheets in all.

The invention is not to be understood to be limited to any particularlocation of the longitudinal connection between the center and sidesheets. In some car designs this might be brought up, say close totwelve or fourteen inches from the eaves or facia, while in others itmight be located midway between the eaves or center of the car or ridgepole. Again the contour lines of the car roof viewed cross seetionallyare not confined to any particular circle or radius. In

fact the center or floating sheets may be made almost fiat or level withjust suilicient curvature to permit water to run off the roof, while theside sheets might be of a much smaller radius. This will be governed bythe type and general design of the car to which the roof is to beapplied. Some of the extremely large cars used for automobiles, buggies,etc., are now built as high. as possible for passing through tunnels,and

it is desired to get all of the clearance that can be secured at theeaves or facia so as to provide as much cubic space inside the car aspossible, and in such cases the narrow side sections or sheets of theroof will probably be arranged at a much sharper angle or 1 radius thanthe central portion or section of the roof. In bending the sheet metalto make the flanges, the sheet metal may be rounded at the cornersinstead of square,

as shown in the accompanying drawings, the

square bends being made in the said drawings for convenience ofillustration.

hat is claimed is 1. A single layer self sustaining flexible metalliccar roof including relatively large unattached floating center sheetsextending across the ridge or center line of the car roof andterminating at points intermediate of the center line and the caves, andrelatively small side sheets secured at their outer edges andconstituting marginal portions of the car roof, the adjacent edges ofthe center and side sheets being arranged in loose overlapping relationso as to permit free relative movement of such overlapped parts andconimperforate sequent free movement of the unattached floating sheets.

A flexible metallic car root' including unattached floating centersheets extending across the ridge or center line of the car roof andterminating at their side edges at points approximately midway betweenthe ridge or center line and the eaves ot' the roof, said floatingcenter sheets constituting the major portion of the area of the carroof, and side sheets secured at the eaves and constituting the marginalportions of the car roof, said side sheets and center sheets havingtheir adjacent edges arranged in loose overlapping relation to permitfree movement of the unattached floating sheets.

3. The combination with a car body, of carlines extending across the carbody, and side purlins located at opposite sides of and spaced fromthe'center of the car body and supported by the carlines, and a rootincluding center floating sheets extending across the center of the carto points intermediate of the center and the side edges of the roof andsupported at the side edges upon the side purlins, and side sheetssecured at their outer edges to the car body, the inner longitudinaledges of the center and side sheets being arranged in loose overlappedrelation at the said purlins.

+1. The combination with a car body, of carlines extending across thecar body, and side purlins located at opposite sides of and spaced fromthe center of the car body and supported by the carlines, and a rootinclud ing side sheets supported upon the carlines and having theirouter edges secured to the car body and provided at their innerlongitudinal edges with upwardly extending flanges supported upon theside purlins, and center floating sheets extending across the center ofthe car to points intermediate of the center and the side edges of theroof and supported upon the side purlins and provided at their sideedges with downturned flanges engaging with the upwardly extendingflanges of the side sheets to form a loose overlapped connection, themembers of which have free relative movement.

The combination with a car body, of carlines extending across the carbody, and side purlins located at opposite sides of and spaced from thecenter of the car body and supported by the carlines, and a roofincluding side sheets supported upon the carlines and secured at theirouter edges to the car body and provided at their inner edges withupwardly extending approximately L- shaped flanges fitted against theouter portions of the purlins and supported by the same, and centersheets extending across the center of the car to points intermediate ofthe center and the side edges of the roof and supported upon the sidepurlins and extending over the L-shaped flanges of the side sheets andprovided at their side edges with downturned flanges located at theoutside of the said L-shaped flanges.

6. A single layer self-sustaining flexible metallic car roof includingunattached floating center sheets having spaced side edges, marginalside sheets flxed at their outer edges at the eaves and extendinginwardly therefrom to the center sheets and having a loose connectiontherewith, a center roof sheet cap extending over and loosely receivingthe transverse edges of the center sheets and terminating at the innerlongitudinal edges of the side sheets, and fastening means locatedinwardly of the loose connection between the side and the center sheetsat the spaces between the said transverse edges of the same for securingthe cap over the center sheets without interfering with the freemovement thereof.

'7. A single layer self-sustaining metallic car roof including centerfloating sheets extending across the center of the car to pointsintermediate of the center and the side edges of the root and arrangedin spaced relation and provided at their adjacent transverse edges withupwardly extending flanges, a transversely disposed center sheet capextending across the center sheets and fitted over the upturned flangesthereof and provided with spaced side flanges between which the upturnedflanges extend, and means located beyond the edges of the center sheetsfor supporting a running board.

8. A metallic car roof including relatively large center floatingsheets, relatively small side sheets secured at their outer edges, theadjacent edges of the side and center sheets being loosely connected,and means located beyond the center sheets for supporting a runningboard so as not to interfere with the free floating movement of the saidcenter sheets.

i 9. A flexible single layer metallic car root including spaced floatingimperforate: unattached center sheets extending [across the ridge orcenter line of the car roof and terminating at points between the ridgeor center line and the eaves, side sheets secured at their side edgesand constituting marginal portions of the roof, the center and sidesheets having their adjacent longitudinal edges arranged in looseoverlapping relation to permit freemovement of the floating sheets, saidcenter sheets having upturned flanges at their adjacent transverse edgesand center sheet caps extending across the center sheets and fittingover the said flanges and terminating at the inner longitudinal edges ofthe side sheets.

10. A flexible single layer metallic car roof including spaced floatingunattached center sheetsextending across the ridge or center line of:the car roof and terminating at points between the ridge or center lineand the eaves, side sheets constituting marginal portions of the carroof and having their inner longitudinal edges arranged in looseoverlapping'relation with the center sheets and secured at their outerside edges at the eaves, said side sheets being provided at theiradjacent transverse edges with loose joints arranged to permit relativemovement of the said sheets, and center sheet caps extending across thecenter sheets and loosely receiving the transverse edges thereof andterminating at the inner longitudinal edges of the side sheets.

7 11. A flexible single layer metallic car roof including spacedfloating center sheets extending across the ridge or center line of thecar and terminating at points between the ridge or center line and theeaves, center sheet caps spanning the space between the center sheetsand loosely receiving the trans verse edges thereof, side sheets havingtheir inner longitudinal edges arranged in loose overlapping relationwith the center sheets and secured at their outer side edges andprovided at their adjacent transverse edges with joints composed of anupturned flange and an approximately V-shapcd cap port-ion havingsubstantially straight oppositely inclined sides arching the flange. andloosely receiving the same and permitting independent movement of theside sheets.

12. The combination with a car body, of carlines extending across thecar body. side purlins located atopposite sides of and spaced from thecenter line of the car body, and a flexible single layer metallic carroof including spaced floating center sheets supported at thelr sideedges upon the side purlins, the center sheets being provided withdown-turned flanges, side sheets supported upon the carlines below theplane of the center sheetsand provided at their outer edges withdown-turned flanges secured to the car body, the adjacent longitudinaledges of the center and side sheets being arranged in loose overlappingrelation to permit easy movement of the floating center sheets, centersheet caps spanning the space between the center sheets and receivingthe transverse edges of the same and terminating at the side sheets, andfastening devices located in the space between the center sheets beyondthe edges thereof for connecting the said caps with the carlines.

13. The combination with a car body, of carlines extending across thecar body, center and side purlins extending along the car, the centerpurlin constituting a ridge pole and the said side purlins being spacedfrom the center purlin, and a single layer metallic roof includingrelatively large center floating sheets extending across the spacebetween the purlms and resting upon and supported by the same, andrelatively small side sheets arranged upon and supported by the carlinesand secured at their outer edges to the car body and having their innerlongitudinal edges loosely supported by the side purlins.

la. The combination with a car body, of carlines extending across thecar body, center and side purlins supported by the car lines, the centerpurlin constituting a ridge pole, a single layer roof includingrelatively large center floating sheets extending across the spacebetween and supported upon the purlins, relatively small Side sheetssupported upon the carlines and extending from the center sheets to thesides of the car body and secured at their outer edges to the latter,and a relatively wide running board extending substantially across thecenter sheets and supported beyond the edges thereof so as not tointerfere with the free floating movement of the same and adapted toprotect the said center sheets.

15. The combination with a car body, of carlines extending across thecar body, side purlins located at opposite sides of the center of thecar body and supported by the carlines, a roof including center sheetsextending across the space between the purlins and spaced apart at theirtransverse edges above the carlines. center sheet caps spanning thespaces between the transverse edges of the center sheets, side sheetssecured at their outer edges to the car body and having their innerlongitudinal edges loosely supported by the purlins, the adjacenttransverse edges of the side sheets being loosely supported upon thecarlines and extending outwardly from the ends of the center sheet caps,side sheets caps sccured to the sides of the car body and fitting overthe outer ends of the transverse edges of the side sheets, running boardholders provided with casings fitted over the ends of the center sheetcaps and the inner ends of the transverse edges of the side sheets, anda running board supported by the said holders.

16. The combination with a car body, of carlines extending across thecar body, side purlins located at opposite sides of the center of thecar body andsupportcd by th carlines, a roof including center sheets extending across the space between the purlins and spaced apart at theirtransverse edges above the carlines, center sheet caps spanning thespaces between the transverse edges of the center sheets, side sheetssecured at their outer edges to the car body and having their innerlongitudinal edges loosely supported by the purlins, the adjacent transverse edges of the side sheets being loosely supported upon the carlinesand extending outwardly from the ends of the center sheet caps, runningboard holders having casings fitted over the ends of the center sheetcaps and the inner ends of the transverse edges of the side sheets,fastening devices piercing the carlines and purlins and securing therunning board holders to the same, and a running board supported by thesaid holders.

17. The combination with a car body, of a cal-line extending across thesame, center and side purlins, the center purlin constituting a ridgepole, a roof including center sheets arranged in spaced relation andsupported upon the purlins, a center sheet cap spanning the spacebetween the center sheets, a ridge pole block arranged upon the centerpurlin and within the center sheet cap, and a fastening device piercingthe ridge pole block and the center purlin and securing the same to thecarline.

18. The combination with a car body, of a carline extending across thesame, purlins located at opposite sides of the center of the car body, aroof including center sheets spaced apart and arranged upon the purlins,a center sheet cap spanning the space between the center sheets, centersheet filler blocks arranged upon the side purlins and within the endsof the center sheet cap, running board holders arranged upon the ends ofthe center sheet cap and supported by the said blocks, and fasteningdevices for securing the running board holders in position.

19. The combination with a car body, of a carline extending across thesame, purlins located at opposite sides of the center of the car body, aroof including center sheets spaced apart and arranged upon the purlins,a center sheet cap spanning the space between the center sheets, centersheet filler blocks arranged upon the side purlins and within the endsof the center sheet cap, running board holders arranged upon the ends ofthe center sheet cap and supported by the said blocks, and fasteningdevices piercing the blocks and the purlins and se-' curing the runningboard holders to the same and to the carlines.

20. The combination with a car body, of a car-line extending across thecar body, purlins located at opposite sides of the center of the carbody and supported upon the carline, a roof including spaced centersheets arranged upon the purlins, a center sheet cap spanning the spacebetween the center sheets, running board holders provided with upperpockets and having lower casings fitted over the ends of the centersheet cap, and a running board cross support or saddle having its endsfitted in the said pockets.

21. The combination of a car roof including spaced center sheets, acenter sheet cap spanning the space between the center sheets, runningboard holders having lower casings fitted over the ends of the centersheet cap, said running board holders being provided at the top withpockets open at the inner ends. 7

22; The combination of a car roof including spaced center sheets, acenter sheet cap spanning the space between the center sheets, runningboard holders having lower casings fitted over the ends of the centersheet cap, said running board holders being provided at the top withpockets each comprising a bottom, side walls and a connecting outer endwall.

23. The combination of a car roof including spaced center sheets, acenter sheet cap spanning the space between the center sheets, runningboard holders having lower casings fitted over the ends of the centersheet cap, said running board holders being provided at the top withpockets each comprising a bottom, side walls and a connecting outer endwall, one of the pockets being also provided with atop wall connectingthe end and side walls, and fastening means carried by the other runningboard holder for securing a running board saddle within its pocket.

24-. The combination of spaced center sheets, side sheets havingoverlapped transverse edges arranged opposite the space between thecenter sheets, a center sheet cap spanning the space between the centersheets, and running board holders provided with upper pockets and havinglower casings fitted over the ends of the center sheet cap and providedwith recesses through which the overlapped transverse edges of the sidesheets extend.

25. The combination with a car, of running board holders mounted uponthe car at opposite sides thereof and each composed of a lower casing,an intermediate stem extending upwardly from the casing, and an upperpocket having a bottom and provided with side walls and an outerconnecting end. wall, and. interiorly arranged fastening means forsecuring the running board holders to the car.

26. The combination with a roof including sheets having a transversejoint or connection, of running board holders located at opposite sidesof the center of the roof and each composed of a lower casing fittedover the transverse joint or connection, an intermediate stem extendingupwardly from the casing, and an upper pocket, and a running boardprovided with a cross piece fitted in the pockets of the said holders.

27. A running board holder comprising a lower casing havin side walls orflanges and provided with an outer end wall or flange extending belowthe side walls or flanges and provided at the bottom with a recess, astem extending upwardly from the casing, and a top pocket having spacedside walls and a connecting end wall.

'28. A flexible metallic car roof including relatively large unattachedfloating center sheets extending across the center of the car andterminating at their side edges at points between the ridge or centerline and the side Walls and constituting the major portion of the roof,and relatively small side sheets extending from the center sheets to theeaves, the ad acent edges ot the center and side sheets being looselyconnected to permit free relative movement of the parts.

29. The combination of a car body, side purlins located at oppositesides of and spaced from the center of the car body, carlines supportingthe purlins, and a single layer flexible sheet metal roof includingunattached floating center sheets extending across the space between andsupported by the side purlins, and side sheets supported upon thecarlines in a plane below that of the center sheets and extending fromthe center sheets to the eaves, said side and center sheets beingconnected by a joint ar ranged longitudinally of the car and located atthe said'purlins.

30. The combination with a car body, carlines extending across the body,side purlins located at opposite sides of and spaced from the center ofthe car and supported by the carlines, and single layer flexible sheetmetal car root including unattached floating center sheets extendingacross the space between the side purlins and having their side edgesloosely supported by the same, and side sheets arranged upon thecarlines in a plane below that of the center sheets and extending fromthe eaves to the side purlins and having their inner edges looselysupported upon the said purlins.

81. The combination with a car body, of a roof including side sheetssecured at their outer edges to the sides of the car body and extendinginwardly from the side walls and terminating short of the center line ofthe roof, and unattached floating sheets covering the space between theopposite side sheets.

32. The combination with a car body having a running board, of aflexible sheet metal roof including a plurality of marginalsheetsextending around the sides and ends of the body and fixed at theirouter edges to the same, and a plurality of unattached floating sheetscovering the space between the marginal sheets and loosely connectedwith the same and constituting the major portion of the roof, the looseconnection be ing located nearer to the running board than to the sidesof the car.

33. The combination with a car body, of a flexible sheet metal roofincluding a plu rality of marginal sheets extending around the sides andends of the car body and fixed at their outer edges to the same andloosely connected at their adjacent edges, and a plurality of unattachedfloating sheets covering the space within the said marginal sheets andloosely connected with the same and completing the roof.

34:. The combination with a car body, of a flexible sheet metal roofincluding a plnrality of marginal sheets extending around the sides andends of the car body and fixed at their outer ends to the same andloosely connected at their adjacent edges, and unattached floatingsheets covering the space within the marginal. sheets and loosely connected at their adjacent transverse edges and also having a looseconnection at the inner edges of the marginal sheets, said floatingsheets constituting the major por tion of the car roof.

The combination with a car body, of a roof including side sheets securedat their outer edges to the sides of the car body, and floating sheetscovering the spaces between the opposite side sheets, and means forsupporting a running board beyond the floating sheets, whereby arelatively wide running board is provided and free movement or thefloating sheets permitted.

36. A metallic car roof including float ing center sheets, a runningboard, and means for supporting the running board beyond the centerfloating sheets so as not to interfere with the free movement of thesame.

37. The combination with a car body, ol' a root including side sheetsfastened at their outer edges to the car body, and center floatingsheets having a loose connection with one another and with the inneredges of the side sheets, a running board, and means for supporting therunning board beyond the edges of the floating sheets so as not tointerfere with the free floating move .ment of the same.

38. The combination with a car body, of a roof including relativelynarrow side sheets fastened at their outer edges to the car body, andfloating sheets having a loose connection with one another and with theside sheets and constituting the major por tion of the car roof, runningboard supports arranged at the side edges of the floating sheets andlocated. beyond the same so as not to interfere with the free floatingmove ment of the said floating sheets, and a relatively wide runningboard mounted on the said supports and constituting a covering for thefloating sheets.

39. The combination with a car body, ot a metallic roof including sidesheets fastened at their outer edges to the sides of the car body,center floating sheets spaced apart at their transverse edges and havinga lOOSe connection with the side sheets, center sheet caps spanning thespaces between the trans- In testimony, that I claim the foregoing verseedges of the center sheets and loosely as my own, I have hereto affixedmy signa- 13 receiving the same a running board arture in the presenceof two Witnesses.

ranged over the center sheets, and means mounted at the spaces betweenthe center WILSON SYMONS' sheets for supporting the running boardWitnesses:

Without interfering With the free floating P. J. BOYLE,

movement of the said center sheets. C. J. THOMSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

